Sens. Feinstein, Wyden, Rep. Neguse, Colleagues Call for Wildfire Relief Funds to Be Included in Next COVID-19 Relief Package
Senator
Specifically, the letter calls for:
* Local economic relief to assist cash-strapped cities and towns originally excluded from the CARES Act in order to ensure firefighters and first responders can remain on payroll and have access to needed staff and resources;
* Investments in fire risk mitigation, such as establishing a 21st
* Federal support for fire response efforts, including investments in
* Investments in fire recovery efforts to support the work being done by local, state, and federal officials to revitalize the environmental health, water quality, and economy of communities impacted by wildfires.
In addition to Feinstein, Wyden and Neguse, the letter was also signed by Senators
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To: The Honorable
The Honorable
The Honorable
The Honorable
As you consider an additional stimulus package t- address the impacts of COVID-19 on our nation, we urge you t- include emergency support for communities recovering from devastating and historic wildfires. A record 2020 wildfire season forced thousands of evacuations, threatened air and water quality, and destroyed homes and businesses across the West.
Investments in the following initiatives would support the short and long-term recovery of local communities impacted by both COVID-19 and a historic wildfire season:
* Local Economic Relief: The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, signed int- law on
* Investments in Fire Risk Mitigation: The severity of wildfires experienced across the western
- 21st
- USFS and BLM -
- USFS- Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program: The Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program (CFLRP) funds large-scale, community-driven restoration projects with the goal of reducing the risk of megafire, supporting jobs in rural communities, and enhancing wildlife habitat and recreational opportunities across the nation.
- USFS - Vegetation and Watershed Management: This program ensures the productive and sustainable use of National Forest System lands by improving the growth and health of timber stands, reducing the risk of severe flooding and erosion in forests affected by severe fire, and helping keep water clean.
- USFS - Water Source Protection Program: This program which was established in the 2018 Farm Bill t- encourage partnerships between agricultural producers, businesses, cities, and the
- USFS - Landscape Scale Restoration: The Landscape Scale Restoration program is a competitive grant program that funds priority projects identified in State
- USFS - National Fire Capacity (previously State Fire Assistance): The National Fire Capacity program administers the Firewise program, and helps the
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* Federal Support for Fire Response Efforts: In addition t- investments in our land management agencies, investments that support our wildland firefighting workforce are critical t- ensure communities are properly equipped for fire season. We encourage investment in programs such as:
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- Interagency
- Increasing Pay and Benefits for Wildland Fire Workforce: Firefighting personnel make sacrifices every day t- keep our communities safe. As fire seasons grow longer, we must expand the benefits they receive, and ensure they are fully supported, compensated, and cared for. We encourage you t- direct, through the appropriate report language, the Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture t- coordinate with the
* Fire Recovery Efforts: We must support the work being done by local, state, and federal officials t- revitalize the environmental health, water quality, and economy of communities impacted by wildfires.
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Communities that have been fighting the public health and economic impacts of COVID-19 are now als- now beginning the long journey of recovering from catastrophic wildfire.
Thank you for your consideration of this request.
See signatories here: https://www.feinstein.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/d/0/d0ee37e1-a61c-4c46-bc7b-2f78a635164a/EE39D631C94BEFA5ED891AE7C09E29C2.120820-neguse-wyden-wildfire-covid-stimulus-letter.pdf
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